PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — FBI Pittsburgh is warning parents about internet predators targeting children.
These groups have one purpose. It is about forcing young victims to perform dangerous and deadly acts.
It’s one thing for FBI Special Agent Christopher Giordano to be shocked and disturbed by a crime, but the activities of a certain group of online criminals who target children are something else.
“This is a very worrying topic,” he said. “In fact, this is probably the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen in his 20 years working in law enforcement.”
Giordano is talking about a group of online predators.
“The end result is pure chaos and the death of the person they are targeting,” Giordano said.
One group identified as 764 is an unorganized group of predators that targets the most vulnerable children online.
“People who are ostracized by their peers or who are socially awkward may not fit into social norms,” Giordano says.
The FBI said the suspects used grooming techniques classic to child abuse. The victims are usually girls, but not only.
“They start grooming themselves,” Giordano said. “They make them feel welcome, tell them how beautiful they are and ask for pictures.”
Predators usually turn from online girlfriends and boyfriends into malicious manipulators with nefarious intentions once they obtain explicit photos.
“They can hurt themselves, they can hurt animals, they can hurt their families, and they can end up committing suicide,” Giordano said.
Most predators are men, usually in their 30s or 40s, but some are teenagers.
The FBI says it has been trying to capture the alleged predator with some success. But the FBI says the greatest protection comes not from the government, but from the child’s guardian.
“Parents need to be aware of what their children are doing online, the games they’re playing, the interactions they’re having and the social media platforms they’re using,” Giordano said.
“We’re going to lose too many children to this,” he added.
The FBI would not comment on specific numbers, but officials said there are multiple investigations into this situation in western Pennsylvania. At this time, none of the victims have harmed themselves or others in any way.
